Independenceavenue spotted nicely

After two unsuccessful attempts to run her in stakes races in New York, trainer Arnaud Delacour appears to have found a nice allowance spot for Independenceavenue at Tampa Bay Downs in that track’s Wednesday feature on a nine-race program.

Independenceavenue, a daughter of Mr Speaker, is one of six 2-year-old fillies entered in a first-level allowance/optional $75,000 claiming race going one mile over Tampa’s turf course.

Independenceavenue ran twice in 22 days at Colonial Downs, finishing second behind Cap Classique in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race on turf Aug. 17 before coming back to win her maiden by 4 1/4 lengths, also at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Cap Classique has since come back to win two more starts, including the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel Park.

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Independenceavenue was entered in the Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 8, but scratched when the race came off the turf. She was entered in the Stewart Manor Stakes, also at Aqueduct, on Nov. 4, but was scratched in the paddock.

“She didn’t flip, she sat down when they were giving her to the pony and in New York if you touch the ground you’re scratched,” Delacour said.

Two days after being scratched, Independenceavenue worked at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland. She has worked two additional times preparing for this.

Delacour doesn’t see the mile as an issue for Independenceavenue.

“Mentally, she’s done very well breezing with other horses,” he said. “I think it’s the right time to stretch her out,” he said

Daniel Centeno will ride.

Summer’s Comin, a New Jersey-bred daughter of Summer Front, has won her last two starts, both with blinkers added. She won sprinting on turf at the Meadowlands on Oct. 6 and going a mile and 70 yards over the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 10.

“The other day at Gulfstream, I was sort of shocked she ran good on it,” Mike Dini, the trainer and owner of Summer’s Comin, said. “She kept digging in at the end. She’s a big 2-year-old that’s still really growing into herself.”

Summer’s Comin is a half-sister to Catsoutofthebag, who was a three-time winner over Tampa’s turf course, including once going two turns. Carol Cedeno rides.

Granny Budgie, a English-bred daughter of Massaat, won three times in six starts at lower-level tracks in Great Britain. She is making her first start in the U.S. and for trainer William Morey and is being offered for the $75,000 claiming price.

D’lightful Summer, fourth in the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park, is making her turf debut in this spot. D’lightful Summer is a half-sister to five winners, including two who won on turf.

Red Wren won a maiden race over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs in September when trained by Kevin Rice. The horse has since been purchased by Michael Cloonan and turned over to Eoin Harty.

Factorbella, a winner of a slow-figured maiden race at Monmouth Park on Sept. 4 completes the field.

First post Wednesday is listed as 12:20 p.m.

Morales to miss 4 to 6 weeks

Jockey Pablo Morales, who won three races from 11 mounts during opening week of the meet, will be sidelined approximately 4 to 6 weeks due to a broken wrist.

Morales was working a horse Sunday morning at Tampa when that horse reared up and “when he came down, he stumbled, sending me down. I twisted my wrist on his neck as I was falling,” Morales wrote in a direct message.

Morales had not yet seen a specialist and hoped he would only be out of action four to six weeks.

Morales, with 53 wins, finished third in the rider standings at Tampa in 2022-23 and was second in 2021-22 with 71 wins.

Morales was one of three riders who booted home three winners opening week, all one behind Samy Camacho, who won four races.

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